Time and tide wait for no man; true to the proverb, eagerly awaited holidays like Thanksgiving are always fast-approaching. Got something planned for this year's Thanksgiving holiday? Great! Whether you’ll be at your best friend’s house or you’ll be hosting, here are 11 thoughtful DIY Thanksgiving gifts your loved ones will appreciate.

1. Turn Signal Biking Jacket

Got a buddy who is into cruising around town on two wheels for fun? They will appreciate this turn-signal biking jacket.

Biking gear costs a ton, so gifting them this turn-signal jacket will save them some neat bucks on a similar accessory. It’s sewed in with 16, Arduino-controlled LilyPad LEDs designed as turn signals to indicate the direction a cyclist is taking.

Paired with a reflector, the turn-signal jacket will increase their visibility on the road and, consequently, their safety. Check out the Instructables guide for detailed instructions on how to complete this project. Here are some more Arduino wearables projects you could make.

2. Arduino-Based Arcade Game

Want to inject a bit of fun into your Thanksgiving evening? Build a candy claw machine. It’s the one classic game millennials, GenZers, and baby boomers can collectively enjoy. Plus, despite being frustrating, most adults still admit to being drawn to a claw machine, thinking, “Maybe today is my lucky day.” Everything you need for this project is well-elaborated in the Instructables guide. Check out these Arduino-based projects for beginners if you need an easier project to try making first.

3D-printed-turkey

Roast turkey is the centerpiece of the traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. But why do we have turkey for Thanksgiving dinner? Sentimentalists argue it was the main dish of the first-ever Thanksgiving dinner, and realists believe it’s because it provides enough to go around on Thanksgiving.

Whichever category you fall into, gifting your host with a 3D-printed Thanksgiving turkey is a nice touch considering they spent their day carving a turkey away and preparing a feast for you. Check out the Hackster tutorial to complete this project. Before you start working on your 3D-printed turkey, it would be best to learn print-in-place 3D printing with these projects to get inspiration on how you can further personalize this gift.

4. Lockable Gift Box

Screengrab of lockable gift box project page

Want to ensure your gift only lands in the hands of the recipient regardless of whether you’ll be there when they unbox it or not? Then make this lockable gift box. It’s Arduino-based and comes with a potentiometer dial you can use to type in the recipient’s initials and who it is from. Check out the step-by-step DIY instructions, supplies, and code in the Instructables project.

5. Tidal Clock

Screengrab of tidal clock project page

Got a surfer or loved one on your Thanksgiving shopping list? Gifting them a tidal clock is thoughtful. As the name implies, tide clocks tell you when tides will be at their highest or lowest. They work just like ordinary clocks, except instead of the 12 and 6 numerals found on a standard clock, they’re marked with high and low tides respectively. Also, most of them have an extra 25 minutes on their full rotation time instead of 12 hours.

This Instructables guide features a DIY tidal clock project concept that you can improve on. Here are some more stunning DIY clocks you can build as a gift.

6. Real Life Coin Block

Coin collecting is a thing. Coin collectors have a formal name, numismatist, and before you bite your tongue, it’s pronounced "noo-miz-ma-tist".

So, do you have a numismatist in your life? Or do you know someone in denial about being one, yet they hold on to a bunch of coins from different countries? This real-life coin block will tickle their fancy this Thanksgiving. It is also an excellent gift for any Mario Bros fanatic who wants to test out what getting a coin from a block feels like. Check out how to complete this project on its Instructables page.

7. Marble Clock

Marble Clock Instructables project page

A rolling ball clock is a fascinating timepiece. Instead of a regular mechanism featuring cogs and springs, it uses balls and rails to move the clock’s hands. It’s an incredibly unique concept first designed in the 18th century and improved on in the 1970s.

The rolling ball clock is difficult to come by, especially now that we’re in the smartphone and smartwatch era. So, gifting a watch enthusiast with one this Thanksgiving is a good idea. Check out how to build a DIY rolling ball clock in this Instructables guide.

8. Slow Motion Frame

We all have that one friend who is into everything decor. They will talk about decor for hours, drag you to decor shopping stores you didn’t even know existed, and swipe away thousands for a quality piece with a smile.

This DIY slow-motion frame will prove that you do indeed pay notice and honor their interest. The built-in real-life objects (you can use anything from roses to feathers) move so hypnotically that anyone will be stuck staring at the frame for hours.

It’ll undoubtedly serve as the focal feature they didn’t know they needed. Check out the Instructables project for a detailed explanation of how to build it. Here are some more art in motion ideas to add class to any space.

9. Musical Shoes

Imagine having sneakers that produce beats every time you hit the floor. It would be an awesome way to practice your moves without carrying a bunch of electronics to the dance floor. And if you know an avid dancer, such a pair will be a game-changer because it means they can show off their craft whenever and wherever. See the Instructables guide for the supplies you’ll need.

10. PCB Necklace

Screengrab of necklight-a PCB necklace for humans and dogs project page

With everyone getting them something, it can be tricky to get a gift for a dog lover in your life that they will use. If you hate your gifts being trashed after a while, build this PCB necklace to take your gift to another level, as shown in the Instructables guide. It glows in the dark; hence it is perfect, especially if they tend to walk their pup after dark a lot.

Besides the glowing part which requires a custom PCB to be manufactured, you’ll have made it yourself, which makes your gift special. Here are some more incredible wearables to make for dogs.

11. Origami 3D Beating Heart

Origami is a form of art that involves folding paper. It’s a Japanese term derived from “oru,” which means to fold, and “kami,” meaning paper. Although it’s a popular pastime, only a few people know how to pull off an origami piece successfully.

Luckily, you don't need to be an origami ace to make this 3D "beating" heart as a Thanksgiving gift for a loved one. Using the printed template, a little cutting, folding, and pasting is required, while an Arduino controls its LED lighting. Check out the Instructables tutorial for details on how to build it.

DIY a Special Thanksgiving Gift

Thanksgivings are a big deal, and the best way to show your loved ones how much you value them is to go out of your way and create a gift for them. We’ve compiled some great tech DIY Thanksgiving ideas and concepts to get your ball rolling.